inferno

noun

in·​fer·​no in-ˈfər-(ˌ)nō How to pronounce inferno (audio)
plural infernos
: a place or a state that resembles or suggests hell
the inferno of war
also : an intense fire : conflagration
a raging inferno

Examples of inferno in a Sentence

By the time help arrived, the fire had grown to a raging inferno. the intense heat of the raging inferno repeatedly drove back the firefighters
Recent Examples on the Web Fortunately, firefighters were gaining an edge over the infernos as temperatures dropped. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024 In London, late in 1940, the German bombs fall, erupting into an inferno of buildings gutted by glowing orange flame. Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 Oct. 2024 In 2018, a worn suspension hook on a transmission tower broke and dropped a high-voltage powerline onto combustible vegetation, sparking the Camp Fire, an inferno that razed the town of Paradise, California. Erik Kobayashi-Solomon, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024 The inferno occurred late Thursday at the Hillside Endarasha Academy in Kieni, in the country’s Nyeri county, Resila Onyango, a spokesperson for the Kenya National Police Service said. Larry Madowo, CNN, 6 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inferno 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'inferno.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, hell, from Late Latin infernus

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inferno was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near inferno

Cite this Entry

“Inferno.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inferno. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

inferno

noun
in·​fer·​no in-ˈfər-nō How to pronounce inferno (audio)
plural infernos
: a place or state that resembles or suggests hell especially in great heat or raging fire
Etymology

from Italian inferno "underworld, hell," from Latin infernus (same meaning), from earlier infernus (adjective) "lying beneath, in the lower regions"

More from Merriam-Webster on inferno

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